2008: Blanche Lincoln/Tom Harkin vs Mark Sanford/Eric Cantor

[NewYorkExpress]

Barack Obama decides not to run and Blanche Lincoln claims the Democrats nomination by finishing a close second in Iowa and New Hampshire, and winning in South Carolina, and the majority of Super Tuesday primaries (plus close seconds in California, New York and Illinois), ultimately outlasting Hillary Clinton and John Edwards on the final day of the primary season, after enough superdelegates endorsed her. She selects Tom Harkin as her running mate.

On the Republican side, Mike Huckabee runs out of money before the Ames Straw Poll, and drops out, allowing Mark Sanford to jump in. He wins the Iowa Caucuses, and South Carolina Primary, and finished second to Mitt Romney in New Hampshire, before outlasting Romney and John McCain, and clinching the nomination on March 11, with the Mississippi Primary. He selects Eric Cantor as his running mate, the first Jewish candidate on a major party ticket (as opposed to McCain selecting Palin IRL).

All other conditions remain the same. Who wins, and why (with maps).

[America Needs a 13-6 Progressive SCOTUS]

Dem: 375
Rep: 163

[Lechasseur]

Dem: 375
Rep: 163

I'd switch Montana and West Virginia (I think the former would stay Republican while the latter would go Democratic), but otherwise I agree with this

Dem: 377
Rep: 161